DA INTENDS TO APPEAL CHILD MOLEST CASE

RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, November 8, 2007: District Attorney Rod Pacheco announced today plans to appeal a higher court to have a child molest case reinstated after a judge dismissed the case on the eve of trial.

Anthony Francis Clarke was charged with two felony counts of child molestation after molesting a 5-year-old girl more than 100 times between November 1994 and June 1995.

"The egregious nature of this case involving repeated and horrific violations on a young child over such a long period of time deserves to be heard by a higher court. This young victim needs justice and her voice needs to be heard," said District Attorney Rod Pacheco.

Between November 1994 and June 1995, the victim and her mother lived with Clarke in Corona. During this period of time, the mother often left the young girl with Clarke. The molestations began when the child was 3 years old and occurred while the girl was in Clarke's care and escalated over time.

The crime was reported to Child Protective Services in 1998 after Clarke slapped the girl in the face when she awoke after having nightmares. The case was later investigated by the Corona Police Department and issued a warrant for Clarke's arrest upon learning he fled to Florida. He later moved to New Mexico where he was eventually arrested and extradited back to California in April 2006.

On August 3, 2007 Judge Paul Zellerbach dismissed the case on the eve of trial over the objections of the District Attorney's Office after hearing a motion for speedy trial by Clarke's defense attorney.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office intends to appeal the judge's ruling in order to have the case reinstated.